New honorary section of Trans Canada Trail opened at Rideau Hall and 24 Sussex

Mission: We will promote and assist in the development and use of the Trans
Canada Trail by supporting success at the local level in the creation
of this national network.

OTTAWA, May 24, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - A new honorary section of Trans
Canada Trail (TCT) was officially unveiled today on the grounds of
Rideau Hall and at 24 Sussex by Their Excellencies the Right Honourable
David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston,
TCT Patrons, and Mrs. Laureen Harper, Honorary Campaign Chair of the
TCT Chapter 150 Campaign.

The honorary section of TCT is approximately one kilometer long and
takes visitors along the MacKay Walk and passes the Canadian Heritage
Garden and the Pool of Unity to the front of the Residence around the
Fountain of Hope, which is dedicated to Terry Fox. The Trail returns
down the main driveway and past commemorative trees planted by visiting
heads of state and dignitaries, towards the Visitor's Center. A shorter
section of the Trail is at 24 Sussex, directly in front of the prime
minister's official residence and is linked symbolically to the Rideau
Hall section of the Trail.

The plaques indicating the honorary section of TCT were unveiled by
Their Excellencies and Mrs. Harper at a special event held on the
grounds of Rideau Hall and at the East Gate of 24 Sussex at 3 p.m.
Nearly 200 Canadians were in attendance.

During his remarks, His Excellency thanked the thousands of Canadian
volunteers who have contributed selflessly to building the Trail over
the past 20 years; without them it would not exist, nor would our
country be what we recognize it to be today.

"As the Honorary Chair of the TCT Chapter 150 Campaign, I will admit
that this is a very special moment for me. I am delighted to join Their
Excellencies today in opening this honorary section of the Trans Canada
Trail, a moment that I have been looking forward to for some time now,"
Mrs. Harper said. "When completed, the Trans Canada Trail will stretch
and wind its way across Canada, from coast to coast to coast. And it
will last for generations. Everyone who steps foot on this trail will
get to experience Canada's natural beauty and diversity. So, to you
trail blazers and trail builders I want to say how much I am looking
forward to Canada Day 2017 and celebrating the completion of the Trans
Canada Trail."

"The Trans Canada Trail is a gift from one generation of Canadians to
another. This honorary section of Trail at Rideau Hall and at 24 Sussex
is a testament to our collective love for our land and its importance
to who we are as a nation," Deborah Apps, president & CEO, Trans Canada
Trail said. "On behalf of all Trail volunteers past and present, I
would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Their Excellencies and
Mrs. Harper for their steadfast support and recognition of the Trans
Canada Trail."

The Trail is nearly 17,000 kilometres long and is 72 per cent connected.
Currently, 124 volunteer Trail projects are in progress as part of the
TCT's goal to connect the Trail from coast to coast to coast by 2017.
Once fully connected, the Trail will stretch almost 24,000 kilometres
and will include urban, rural and wilderness trails in every province
and territory.

About the Trans Canada Trail: TCT is a national non-profit organization that supports the
development and use of a national Trail network, linking Canadians from
coast to coast to coast, through more than a 1,000 communities and
across incredible landscapes. Partnering with all levels of government
and donors, the Trail supports the work of more than 400 local trail
groups through funding and promotion of their efforts to build and
sustain one of the world's longest and grandest recreational trails.
For more information on the TCT, please visit www.tctrail.ca.